Tips on How Not to Offend: Hand Gestures

So you and your friends are enjoying a relaxing evening at a local cafe on the Grecian coast. The food was absolutely magnificent, as was the spirits and good company of the locals. The beautiful Mediterranean evening could not possibly go south from here, everyone was respectful and no one seemed to mind the fact that you and your friends completely butchered the songs everyone was singing throughout the evening. You might just have this world travel thing licked! Not so hard right? You made some memories. You are really proud of yourself as you signal your server that you would like another round of Greek booze, preferably something that would put Zeus on his ass. She asks you if you would like to try some Ouzo, a national staple , and you distractedly give her the "ok" sign in the affirmative.

Her smile melts into a frown and she turns around quickly and stomps off muttering what could only be construed as Greek profanity. She goes up to the owner and begins shouting at him while gesturing at your table. Uh oh. Were you supposed to refuse the national drink of Greece? Was there a customary response that you missed? All you did was give the "ok" sign, and now several descendants of King Leonidas and Hercules are walking up to your table with menace in their eyes. Well unbeknownst to you, the "ok" sign in several Mediterranean cultures is considered to be something quite filthy. Like sodomy level filthy, aimed at your mom. Whoops. Sucks you can't bend time and read this post before you leave home, but feeble attempts at nonlinear narrative aside, you can now!

Although today's video goes into deeper detail, here are some quick reference tips separated by region that can go a long way in avoiding any embarrassing or potentially dangerous confrontations.

Argentina: Slapping the inside of your own thigh is considered a crude "come hither" gesture.

Mexico: Putting your hands on your hips can be seen as a sign of hostility. Yeah. Now think of every Salma Hayek movie you've ever seen. U mad, gringo?

Chile: Palm up with your fingers spread out is the same as calling someone a dumbass.

Japan: Signaling someone with a single finger is considered a harbinger of death.

China: The older generation still picks it's nose and eats it in public. Basically just look away and don't yell "Eww"

Egypt: Tapping your two index fingers together at someone is the same as saying "I wanna hit that.."

Most Arab Countries: The "thumbs up" gesture is the same as the middle finger.

Britain: The peace sign in reverse is the same as the middle finger in the US.

Lebanon: Licking your finger and running it across your eyebrow at someone, is calling them gay.

Spain and Greece: The "ok" sign in US vernacular means something horrifically vulgar (see above).

Australia: Supposedly putting your empty glass upside down on a bar means you think you can take out anybody in the bar in hand to hand combat. I'd love to hear from some of my Aussie readers on this one for confirmation. If true, don't freaking do it...those dudes can fight...

So there is a brief rundown, and as time progresses, we will explore more as well as other tips to keep you from visiting Humiliation Land or even Charon the ferryman of the underworld (pro tip: don't die in Greece). Below is a video taken from a BBC documentary that goes into really good detail about different hand gestures and what they mean to different cultures. Very interesting stuff!

What about YOUR culture? Are there any gestures that you can think of that have dual meanings across cultures? If so, put it down in the comments section and I will repost them next week on the same day! I've decided to dedicate Wednesday's feature to preventing overseas embarrassment from here on out, and with your help, it will probably be pretty damn funny as well! 

Survival Tips Chapter 1: Poop Hitting the Fan

Beneath the same sky we share a view of the stars, and there is so much going on up there now I don't know if you've had a view of this comet since it's arrival, but it has lit up the sky down here to where there is a very real science fictiony look to the place. Hopefully you aren't in a place where the locals consider this an omen of some kind and demand sacrifice. If that's the case, I offer you this and this as possible resources to be utilized.

As this blog is first and foremost a survival guide, I feel it necessary to include some real advice on what to do if poop goes horribly, horrifically, catastrophically, or delightfully wrong while on your journeys. Even if you are in Japan.

Look for these and other useful tips as time goes on!